God speaks through simple things, and when we take the time to pause and listen, we’re blessed with unbounded hope.
A little boy lives across the street, and whenever I sit on the porch, and he sees me, he waves, and yells, “Hi.” He keeps it up until I wave and say “hi.” Then he remains silent. In five minutes, he begins again until I respond.
He trusts me, humble without pretense, despite knowing little about me. I talk to his father and mother when I see them, so perhaps his trust in me arises more from a trust of his parents. After all, he’s only two years old, and he depends on his father and mother for everything. The thing is, he trusts, like a child.
This gregarious little guy gives me pause. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17, NASB.)
That’s a serious statement. How much do I trust God?
Memories of my childhood stretch back a number of decades. I try to act like an adult, well, most of the time. What is it about a child that opens the kingdom? If I need to have it to get in, I want it.
When I say “kingdom of God,” I mean a spiritual rule over those who have surrendered willingly to the lordship of Christ, and He rules in their hearts. No one is without sin, or we wouldn’t need God’s grace.
It’s common to think of trust and faith as the same thing, but I think they’re different. Faith is a noun, and given by God. It’s supernatural.
“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1, NASB.)
Trust is a verb, something we do.
“No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:20-21, ESV.)
This verse tells me if we act, believing God to provide, our faith will grow.
The story of Charles Blondin and Harry Colcord illustrates the difference between trust and faith. Blondin walked across Niagara Falls on a tightrope in June of 1859. He did this several times over several weeks, adding different challenges, like pushing a wheelbarrow full of rocks on one occasion. When Blondin asked the crowd if they believed he could do it again, they cheered. When he asked for someone to get in the wheelbarrow, the crowd fell silent. Colcord managed publicity for Blondin. In August, 1859, Harry Colcord climbed on Blondin’s back and they successfully crossed Niagara Falls.
The crowd had faith in Blondin’s ability, but Colcord demonstrated trust. He chose to act based upon his faith in Blondin. How often I believe in the promises of God, like the crowd, but I fail to climb on His back, in trust. Obedience requires action on my part, but to get off my duff, I need to trust God. There are plenty of stories in the Bible to show God comes through. He does what He says He will do.
“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” (Numbers 23:19, NLT.)
I need to embrace my weakness and trust God will fill in the gaps. He will give me what I need to get the job done. I can trust Him.
Easy said, harder to act.
So how do I develop trust in God? I read His Word, and strive to act in obedience. The Word is powerful and living, and God moves upon our hearts when we read scripture.
“The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130, NASB.)
I offer another translation from the Latin Vulgate: “The declaration of thy words giveth light: and giveth understanding to little ones” (Psalm 119:130, The Douay-Rheims Bible—DRB.)
A characteristic of the simple, of little ones, or of those who receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, is humility. All I have, all I am or will be, comes from God. I’m not in control, whether or not I’ve submitted to Him as Lord.
Dr. Charles Stanley writes, in his wonderful devotional, Pathways to His Presence (June 4, “Faith Defined”), “Before we can trust God fully, we must come to a point of helpless dependence. It is here that we realize that we simply cannot do it all, be all that is needed, and have all the answers. If we could there would be no need for God. We would be in total control and very proud of it . . . Godly dependence is not a sign of weakness, but one of immeasurable strength and confidence. There are problems in life that only God can solve, tasks only He can perform, and solutions that can only be discovered through the wisdom He gives.”
The more I read scripture, the more I understand God will meet my needs when He gives me an assignment. I can let go of my pride, which leads to trust in Him, and I can be more thankful, look outwardly, to the work God has for me to do. I can be more fruitful.
And I don’t want to forget the small stuff. You know the story: but for a nail in the horse’s hoof, the shoe came off, the horse went lame, and so on, until the battle was lost. I need to stay alert and humble. If God gives me a small job today, so be it. Small things count.
Like a little boy, who waves at me, and persistently yells “hi.”
Selah.